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DFP bureaucracy frustrating European funding applicants - McKay

Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has said that the
Finance Minister should tackle Department of Finance bureaucracy which is
frustrating efforts by local funding applicants to expand and develop job
creation projects. The Assembly Finance Committee Chair spoke as preparation work takes place to prepare for a
new tranche of European funding for the 2014/’20 period.

Daithí McKay said:

“One could understand the frustration felt by many businesses and organisations
about the length of time required to process EU funding applications. This was
apparent listening to officials from EU Funding body SEUPB and the Department
of Finance (DFP) before the Finance Committee this morning.

“It is obvious that the process is not applicant friendly and needs to be
overhauled. Some applications to the previous INTERREG programme were subject
to as many as four economic appraisals! We need to reduce this level of
bureaucracy.

“Many applicants experienced as much as 56 weeks waiting time for
applications to be processed. This is unacceptable and the 2014/’20 tranche
needs to see a huge reduction in this time frame.

“Unfortunately successive DUP Finance Ministers have not been proactive in
exploring ways to reduce this bureaucracy, which is unique to the north. This leaves
us behind most of Europe in terms of how we process these applications.

“Peace IV and INTERREG VA funding will be worth €269million and €282million
respectively for the 2014/’20 period.

“This represents huge opportunities for SMEs, community and cross-border
projects. However, the bureaucracy is sometimes difficult to navigate and
simple errors or omissions can result in rejection or long delays in funding
approval.

“Public consultation on new EU funding for 2014/’20 will start
shortly after the elections and the new tranche of funding could be open to
applications as early as the first quarter of 2015.

“I would encourage those intending to apply for assistance to start
preparing their proposals now so that they can be submitted as soon as the
application period begins.” ENDS